Hetch (Men OF S.W.A.T. #1) Page 14

  “Ahh, man it’s not mine, I swear.” He starts shaking his head, still denying it’s his.

  “This is how we’re gonna play it, Victor. You’re going to tell me the information I want and I’m going to drop the charges of assaulting an officer and resisting arrest.”

  “Nah, man, that's bullshit. I’m no snitch.”

  “Then you’re under arrest for obstruction, assaulting a police officer, and possession of an illegal substance.” I start to read him his rights, knowing he’s going to cave before I finish.

  “Aww, hang on, man, what do you need?”

  “I need information on Dominic Westin.”

  “Are you fucking insane? No way I’m going against him.” He shakes his head, not okay with what I’m asking.

  “He doesn’t need to know it's you. I just want to know where we can find him.”

  “Jesus, I don't know.” His shoulders slump, and I know he’s thinking about it.

  “You think you got problems with a guy like Dominic finding out you snitched. You’re gonna have huge problems with me if you don’t give me what I want.”

  “Fuck, man. If he finds out I rolled on him….”

  “He won't,” I promise, knowing it's not really a promise I can keep. Hopefully, the information he gives us is enough to put the asshole away.

  Then he won't be anyone’s problem.

  Least of all mine.

  Fourteen

  Liberty

  “Uggg, this is hopeless.” I slam the phone down on its cradle and let out a frustrated groan. Does anything ever happen smoothly around here?

  “Bad news?” Sue asks from the doorway of my office, bringing me out of my pity party.

  “Yes. The church where we were going to hold the car wash next Saturday just informed me they can’t let us use the parking lot. They booked the hall and now due to health and safety, we both can’t be there.”

  I flick through the mess of paperwork on my desk, trying to decide how I’m going to figure this out.

  “Well, crap. Where else could we hold it?” She steps into the office and takes a seat across from me.

  It’s Saturday afternoon and once again, I’m in on my day off, dealing with this mess.

  “There are a few places I can call. I know the gas station down on Parkton may let us use their lot at short notice.” I flick through the folder holding all our fundraising information.

  “What about your dad’s car yard? That would be perfect.”

  “Yeah, it would be, but after what happened with Mitch the other week, I’m not sure it’s wise to let him around the boys right now.” I shut the idea down right away. It’s bad enough I have to deal with Mom and Dad checking in on me every day. I don’t need my dad getting in my business, or in the boys’ business.

  “Things still tense with the parents?” She smirks, knowing full well since she’s fielded calls all week from both my mom and dad.

  “Don’t try to be funny.”

  The start of an argument in the recreation room at the same time the doorbell rings cuts our conversation short and has both of us out of our chairs.

  “You want the fight or the door?”

  “I’ll take the door.” I opt for the easiest option and exit first, making my way through the house to the front door. I can hear Sue sorting out the boys, just as I open the door to find a very pissed-off Mitch and an equally pissed-off Hetch standing there.

  “What the—” It takes a second to register the man who’s spent every night in my bed over the last two weeks is not here for me, but for something more serious.

  Mitch.

  “I didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t freak out.” Mitch shrugs off Hetch’s hand from his shoulder and pushes past me into the house.

  “Hold on there, buddy. What’s going on here?” Mitch ignores my question, stomping his way down the hall into his room.

  “Ahh?” I turn back to Hetch, my mind running a million miles a minute wondering what sort of trouble Mitch has found himself in now.

  Keep it together, Liberty.

  “We picked him up over in Redlands. He was hanging with one of Dominic’s boys.”

  “Jesus Christ.” I run a hand over my face, completely frustrated. I feel like we take two steps forward, then three back. One day he seems to be on board, and the next I have the police bringing him home.

  “Can I come in and talk to you for a second, Lib?” he asks, pulling me from my freak-out and back to him.

  Shit, he has more news.

  “Ah, yeah, of course. We’ll go to my office.” I step back, letting him in, and directing him to my office.

  “Let me fill Sue in real quick.” He nods and I leave him there, heading into the rec room. Sue has the boys calmed down now, all arguments diffused by the time I find her. I quickly fill her in on the Mitch situation, telling her to keep an eye on him, before heading back to Hetch.

  When I get back to the entrance of my office, Hetch is standing in the corner reading one of my textbooks on child behavior. He doesn’t notice me right away, so I take a second to check him out in his uniform. A skin-tight navy T-shirt stretches across his back and biceps. Black military-type pants, which fit better than any pair of jeans I’ve ever seen on a man, and black kick-ass combat boots that for some crazy reason do something to me, complete his delectable ensemble.

  Jesus.

  “You okay?” Hetch turns, either sensing my presence or hearing the soft moan I let past my lips. Judging by his dimples, I’d say the moan.

  “Ahh, yeah. Sorry. Umm, can I get you a drink or anything?” I ask as I step into my office.

  “I’m good.” He closes the book, places it back on my bookshelf, and then pulls up the seat in front of my desk.

  “Right.” I close the door behind me, then quickly move to my desk to tidy up a little, suddenly conscious of my mess. “Sorry about the mess. We have a lot going on around here this week with the new Big Brother program starting up in a few weeks. I wasn’t expecting anyone.” I know I’m rambling as I try to sort the paperwork into some sort of controlled chaos, but I can’t stop

  Hetch in front of me on a normal day makes me nervous. Hetch in front of me because of issues with Mitch makes me a wreck.

  “Liberty, sit down and just breathe,” he orders in his special Hetch kind of way I’ve come to like. It’s the reprieve I need to take stock of everything.

  “I’m sorry, you’re right.” I fall into my chair, forcing myself to stay calm. “Okay, how bad is it?”

  “The kid we picked him up with was carrying enough cocaine to be charged with intent to distribute.”

  Fuck.

  “What about Mitch?”

  “He was clean. But who knows what would have happened if we didn’t pick them up.”

  “Oh, God. How could he be so stupid?” My breathing skyrockets at hearing how deep Mitch is getting involved. “After everything we’ve talked to him about, I don’t get it. I’m trying so hard here, Hetch. I don’t know what else I can do to help him.” I reveal more than I probably should.

  “Seems to me you’re doing everything right, sweetheart.” I ignore the soft flutter in my stomach at the sound of his name for me and try to stay focused on the issue at hand.

  “I don’t know, Hetch. One minute I’m checking in with his caseworker, letting her know he’s been doing well, the next I have to pull rank and give him extra chores and take his community visits away. I don’t think it’s sticking.”

  “I think it’s sticking. I just think there are other factors playing a huge part here.”

  “What do you mean?” I sit up a little straighter, unsure what he means.

  “I mean, Dominic’s hold on Mitch is a bit more complex than you might think.”

  “What’s more complex than family? Trust me I get it.”

  “It’s more than family to him. Mitch confided in me, but it’s more to do with you, rather than him.”

  “Me? What do I have to do with it?” I sit back, more
confused than I care to be.

  “Dominic’s using you over him.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah, he’s found Mitch’s weakness, and he’s using it.”

  “I don’t understand.” I shake my head, still trying to figure out what exactly he means. “Why would he be using me over Mitch? I mean, we’ve had one run-in so this doesn’t make sense.”

  “Mitch cares for you as much as you care for him. He’s doing it for you. He doesn’t want to follow his brother’s footsteps. Dominic knows he can’t make him, so he’s using other forms of getting him to play.”

  “He’s threatening harm to me to get Mitch to join his crew?” I stand, not realizing how loud my voice has risen.

  “Relax, Lib. It’s going to be okay.” He tries to reassure me, but it doesn’t help. Mitch is doing this shit because of me? To keep me safe.

  “It’s not okay, Hetch. This is getting way out of hand. I’ve worked so hard the last six months with him. He’s come so far, and now Dominic’s going to drag him down. I can’t stop him from seeing his brother. Other than banning him from coming to the house. I can’t stop him from getting to him at school. On rec time. I mean where does this leave me? I’ve no resources for these kinds of issues. The department doesn’t give a shit. I’m at my wits’ end.” I finish my rant only to find Hetch standing in front me, holding my face in his hands.

  “You need to bring it down a notch, babe. I know this is overwhelming, but it’s gonna work out.”

  “How? Tell me how?” I want to believe things will find a way of working out, but right now, I can’t see it happening.

  “We’re gonna bring him in, sweetheart. We have plays in motion. The little prick we picked today up is gonna flip on Dominic, so we might be able to get him on something. And I’m gonna help with Mitch.” His thumb starts stroking my cheek in a soft circular pattern and for a second, it helps soothe me, until I realize him becoming involved will only complicate things.

  “Hetch, you can’t get involved.” I try to pull out of his grasp, but his hold stays firm.

  “I can and I will, Lib.”

  “How, Hetch? How do you propose you get involved?”

  “Well for one, I can spend some one-on-one time with him.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “Why the hell not?” He pulls back, like the rejection slapped him.

  “Because it’s a conflict of interest. You can’t walk in here and hang out, you need to be cleared. Plus, after this stunt, Mitch is gonna be on strict house lockdown.” I ramble off all the reasons why it’s a bad idea, completely ignoring the reasons why it could also be a great idea.

  “You forget, Liberty, I’m an officer of the law. I’m pretty sure you can clear me.”

  “This is true.” I stop trying to fight the reasons and contemplate the idea. He’s right. It would be as easy as a phone call and some paperwork being filled out. “You’d do that for me?”

  “For you, for Mitch.”

  “But why?” The question hangs in the air between us. Not in an awkward silence, but expectantly. It’s only been two weeks since we fell into bed together. Granted it’s been an amazing two weeks, but it’s hardly anything serious. Besides getting to know each other’s bodies exceptionally well, he’s barely opened up to me.

  “Because I like you and despite the issues you’re having with Mitch and the bad decisions he’s making lately, he’s a good kid.”

  “He is,” I repeat, without missing a beat.

  “So figure it out and I’ll do what I have to do.” I nod, still not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Instead of messing my head up anymore on it, I decide to let it happen. Hetch is right. Maybe having him around here, having one–on-one time with Mitch, as well as some of the boys, would be good for all of them. Especially Mitch.

  “I like you, Liam,” I whisper hesitantly, finally making the decision in my mind.

  “I know you do.” His smirk is way too cocky for the moment. “I like you too.” His lips steal the words I want to say, in a soft, innocent kiss.

  “I missed you.” He steals my lips this time, gently soothing me with the soft caress of a promise.

  “You did?” I ask before his lips whisper over my jaw and down my neck. “You only left my bed this morning,” I remind him. We’ve been taking turns between each other’s bed. One night it’s my place, the next it’s his.

  “Mmhmm,” he answers, his tongue swirling over the pulse point in my neck. “’Specially missed this. Missed seeing you come to life.” His words in the intimacy of the moment stir a wave of warmth within me and push me further into his spell.

  “Jesus, Hetch. You’ve barely touched me and I feel like I’m about to explode.” I try to push him away, but he doesn’t allow it.

  “Go out with me tomorrow night.” He pauses, more unsure than I’ve ever seen him before.

  “Like a date?” I ask, my growing smile pauses, my heart fluttering faster.

  “Yeah, like a date. You, me, food.” He kisses me again, this time, harder.

  “Okay,” I answer when he pulls back.

  “Okay.” He smiles, giving me his dimples, and for the split second like every other second Hetch has invaded the last few weeks, my world seems complete.

  Fifteen

  Hetch

  “You ready for this, boys?” I ask when we’re en route in the back of an unmarked tactical van, about to execute yesterday’s high-risk arrest warrant on one of Dominic’s known hangouts. After getting Victor to turn on Dominic yesterday afternoon, we decided to hold off and move on the information today.

  After going over the intel, and reevaluating our play, Detective Tomelson and I decided we wanted both teams on this raid. Kaighn’s team will now enter through the back and deal with the dog while my team will breach the front.

  “We’re good, boss,” Sterling answers for the team, picking up on my unease.

  Normally I’m more collected before a high-risk raid, but knowing there is a lot riding on this arrest, the pressure builds.

  “Yeah, we know the play. Gonna get the fucker. We’re good.” Fox encourages, and I force the tension out of my shoulders knowing my team has my back.

  “Okay, boss, we’re coming up on Garth street, twenty seconds out,” Walker tells me from the front of the van, pulling me out of my head, and back into the game. “Right, boys. Game faces and bring it in.” I place my fist out in front of me and wait for everyone to connect.

  “Keep it together and stay safe.” I get a few nods and a couple of repeat sentiments. Seconds later, we pull up three houses down from the suspect’s, exit the tactical vehicle, and stack up in formation.

  Tate, Fox, Sterling, Hart and myself.

  “Let’s go.” I squeeze Hart’s shoulder, giving him the go-ahead. He in turns squeezes Sterling’s shoulder. Sterling squeezes Fox’s, and Fox squeezes Tate’s. At Fox’s go-ahead, Tate moves, and we move with him. Knees bent, rifles trained, we stay low and controlled as we breach the perimeter of the front yard.

  “Team One in place,” I whisper into my coms, and wait for Team Two to get into position.

  It only takes a few beats for Kaighn to come through, letting us know they are in place and ready to move.

  At Kaighn’s order, Tate is on the door, breaching it with a battering ram, and then stepping back. Fox releases a flash bang and the noise and explosion may only give us a couple of seconds, but it’s enough to get in clean and let us control the situation. Fox’s fast feet lead us inside. All of us move in sync. Fox, Sterling, Tate, Hart, then myself. A second flash bang goes off in the back end of the house, letting us know Kaighn and his team have made entry.

  “Police! Search warrant. Don’t move.” An array of shouts ring out through the house while we all move to our areas. Fox, Sterling, and Tate step to left of the entryway, Hart and myself to the right.

  Instantly, my eyes train in on an unidentified male, sitting on the sofa, some bitch on her knees sucking his c
ock.

  “Police, don’t move,” I shout, training my rifle on them while Hart clears the rest of the room.

  “What the fuck?” We take them by surprise. The male releases the bitch’s hair and stands.

  “Clear,” Hart calls, allowing us to push forward.

  “Keep your hands above your head and get on the ground,” I order both the man and the woman.

  She falls to the ground, screaming at our intrusion, but the guy stays standing.

  “I need back up in here,” I call through my coms, keeping my weapon and eyes trained on him.

  Two of Kaighn’s men step in behind us, securing the woman on the ground while I step toward the difficult male.

  “Get on the ground on your stomach.” I inch in closer, but he doesn’t waver.

  “Fuck you, pig.” His anger is all it takes for him not to pay attention, giving Hart an opening to reach him. Kicking his leg out in front of him, Hart drops him to the ground in one swift movement.

  “You speak to your mom with that mouth?” Hart grunts, turning him onto his stomach and securing his arms behind his back.

  “My mother’s dead, fucker. Just like you all will be. Fucking coming to my house and fucking with me.” I drop my knee to his back and help Hart secure his hands with zip ties.

  “Shut up and quit resisting!” I dig my knee in deeper, my hand squeezing down hard on the back of his neck. I’m not in the mood to hear him running his mouth.

  “I’m not fucking resisting.”

  “Then relax your arms,” Hart orders, still struggling to secure him.

  “Fuck you.” I squeeze harder on his neck, letting him know I’m not fucking around here. After a few more seconds of fighting, he finally grows tired, and we get him secured.

  “Two subjects secure and in custody,” I call through the coms, waiting to hear back from the rest of the team.

  “Room two, clear. Two suspects secure,” Fox calls back.

  “Room four clear,” Sterling informs.

  The rest of Kaighn’s team calls through a clear on each room until the whole house has been cleared and secured.